In Praise of the Case Seahorse Whittler

This is nice to see. I totally agree that it's great to see a thread resurrected with relevant and insightful content. I'm on paternity leave at present with lots of free time whilst baby sleeps (which will not last I know) and have been very good for a wee while in my knife acquisitions, or lack thereof, so I think it's high time I had a little splurge. All in the name of Christmas, becoming a Dad again and generally not having bought a new knife in donkeys.

Browsing my favourite UK case dealer I was having a good look at various patterns following the continued success of my peanut and the revelation of my teardrop. Other than these two and a tiny pocket hunter gifted me by our excellent resident porch wallaby (which is fantastic but honestly so small that I can't take it seriously as a lone pocket dweller and I like to carry just one at a time most days; if what's in your pocket can't do it on its own, it shouldn't be there) I've had no other case experience. However this recently emancipated fella wants more and the case seahorse pattern is one about which I have been thinking and wondering and humming to myself a little and pondering a little more each visit.

I love patterns with blades that congress in the way that whittlers and, well, congress patterns do. I also love the slightly different ones, the outside the norm, the quirky and the weird and this fits the bill. I'm a little put off by its closed length, but it appears so slim and sinuous that it might not be an issue. The other thing I'm aware of is blade rub. I love a highly polished blade and that finish would be my first choice but blade rub looks miles worse with a high polish so I wonder about alternatives;



... the burnt barnboard with raindrop damascus ...



... and the caramel bone with as ground blades are both possibilities. With the latter being more justifiable financially (which translates as 'to my wife') and the burnt barnboard not being the most handsome of covers anyway I'm not likely to make a decision any time soon. I've learnt to really put off the impulse buys and have a good think about it before spending money on a knife that will end up as a gift, sale or trade a few months later.

Anyway, nice coincidence. Thanks chaps. :thumbup:
 
Very nice Randy,Jolipapa and Harry. :thumbup: I only have one in that pattern so far and it's a Fight'n Rooster. Paul, I too am trying to stop the impulse buying. We'll see. :D Oh, and Congratulations on yalls little miracle. :thumbup:

DSC_0556_zpsmsftce0x.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
Last edited:
Paul My Seahorse - see post 50 - displays no rub at all. The Wharncliffe master is a very thick blade and the secondaries quite thin. I have a Swayback
Gent in damascus with that bone but I found the colour too light, a tea-bath :D improved it a lot though and it gives a good contrast with the Dam.

However, I think GEC's 38 Whittler has overtaken the Seahorse in my desirability league. Big long Clip master and quite sturdy secondaries too. Northwoods offers the Wharncliffe Pen variant.

IMG_3141.jpg
 
Will Power said:
Paul My Seahorse - see post 50 - displays no rub at all. The Wharncliffe master is a very thick blade and the secondaries quite thin. I have a Swayback
Gent in damascus with that bone but I found the colour too light, a tea-bath :D improved it a lot though and it gives a good contrast with the Dam.

However, I think GEC's 38 Whittler has overtaken the Seahorse in my desirability league. Big long Clip master and quite sturdy secondaries too. Northwoods offers the Wharncliffe Pen variant.

IMG_3141.jpg
Click to expand...

That's good food for thought, a tea bath might be the way to go with it.

As far as GEC (apart from the 25s) I'm steering in the direction of stainless at the minute so I have found my interest in their productions waning.
 
Well a Stainless 38 Pen is my dream! But I don't hold out too much hope given the rustoholics over at GEC...:rolleyes::D
 
Seems a lot of folks are steering towards stainless these days I know I am. I have a nice display case of seven various Chestnut Bone Case knives in CV. I took them out awhile back and evidently had forgotten to dress the blades last time I had them out and on the back side of all of them was red rust. I felt a little sick but had caught it early enough to fix them with no pitting.
Although I have bought a couple of GEC 1095 knives since I am leaning heavily towards stainless these days.
 
pmew said:
This is nice to see. I totally agree that it's great to see a thread resurrected with relevant and insightful content. I'm on paternity leave at present with lots of free time whilst baby sleeps (which will not last I know) and have been very good for a wee while in my knife acquisitions, or lack thereof, so I think it's high time I had a little splurge. All in the name of Christmas, becoming a Dad again and generally not having bought a new knife in donkeys.

Browsing my favourite UK case dealer I was having a good look at various patterns following the continued success of my peanut and the revelation of my teardrop. Other than these two and a tiny pocket hunter gifted me by our excellent resident porch wallaby (which is fantastic but honestly so small that I can't take it seriously as a lone pocket dweller and I like to carry just one at a time most days; if what's in your pocket can't do it on its own, it shouldn't be there) I've had no other case experience. However this recently emancipated fella wants more and the case seahorse pattern is one about which I have been thinking and wondering and humming to myself a little and pondering a little more each visit.

I love patterns with blades that congress in the way that whittlers and, well, congress patterns do. I also love the slightly different ones, the outside the norm, the quirky and the weird and this fits the bill. I'm a little put off by its closed length, but it appears so slim and sinuous that it might not be an issue. The other thing I'm aware of is blade rub. I love a highly polished blade and that finish would be my first choice but blade rub looks miles worse with a high polish so I wonder about alternatives;



... the burnt barnboard with raindrop damascus ...



... and the caramel bone with as ground blades are both possibilities. With the latter being more justifiable financially (which translates as 'to my wife') and the burnt barnboard not being the most handsome of covers anyway I'm not likely to make a decision any time soon. I've learnt to really put off the impulse buys and have a good think about it before spending money on a knife that will end up as a gift, sale or trade a few months later.

Anyway, nice coincidence. Thanks chaps. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Great thread, and I'd not seen it until now. Thanks for bringing it back to life!

Here's my caramel bone Seahorse Whittler. Mine has no blade rub, for what it's worth, and I love the as ground blades. I wasn't sure I would but I've found that finish to be pleasing.

Case Seahorse Whittler in caramel bone and as-ground SS blades by major_works, on Flickr
 
My contribution to the Seahorse appreciation is a Case Tested XX for Blue Grass Cutlery from 1994. While very close, this one is slightly different. It sports the splitback spring design, but on a 3 5/8" frame. The Wharncliffe itself is slightly longer (I believe) and a bit thinner than the Seahorse. It has carbon steel blades and back spring, nickle silver bolsters and some lovely jigged yellow bone. While I find the Seahorse a comfortable pattern, I like this just a bit better at 3 5/8". Thin and pocketable. Aside from some Case/Bose collaborations, this is without a doubt the best Case knife I have ever owned in regards to fit and finish and all around execution.

dIGggSw.jpg

ZxVdk4a.jpg

mxSQOYv.jpg
 
Last edited:
Wow. That is quite stunning Bob. It looks as though it could be a centurion, quite un-case-like in fact if you look at their current lineup. I'm very impressed. The bone jigging and colour is very well done, and is it a trick of the light or is one of the two pen blades slightly narrower than the other (no surely not, must just be the picture). Interesting that they chose two pens and no coping blade, is that a homage to any particular knife of days gone by or was Case the progeny itself?

Either way, thank you for showing that, what a lovely piece of cutlery - make sure you save that for your grandson, it's a beauty :)
 
Thanks Paul. The two pen blades is somewhat an oddity I think. I don't know much about the history of the pattern and Case's roll in their versions. The two pen blades are the same size. Just a bit of light trickery I suppose.
I'll have to take some better pics in the daylight.
 
I was wondering where Case got the idea of such an unusual design as the Seahorse Whittler . If I remember right Mr. Case at one time worked at Cattaraugus .
Some pictures taken from the reported Ol Catt catalogue. Cattaraugus actually had at least 3 different models. These are the best photos that I could do at this time.


Harry
 
Last edited:
I took some better pics of my whittler in the daylight and thought I'd share. Some may disagree, but I consider GEC Knives the quality benchmark for the price range of currently available manufacturers without going custom or semi-custom. As mentioned earlier in my other post, I would place this Case at equal or above my GEC benchmark for quality and fit & finish. It really is that good. :cool:

2ha2wvK.jpg

f8IspHP.jpg

pwocWxR.jpg

l6pBjA4.jpg

8SwJMLJ.jpg

OfE7nl8.jpg
 
That truly is a wonderful Case Split-back you have there Bob. Thanks for sharing.
 
Yes, choice bone on that example Bob, and a decent shield too. Odd that it has two Pens when the current ones sport Pen and Coping blades?
 
Thanks fellas. I also found the two pen blades a bit odd. I figured I could always convert one into a coping blade if I wanted.
 
Surprise surprise!!!:eek:
Bob, that beautiful Wharncliffe knife, "Seahorse" if you will, was made by Bill Howard, when he was at Queen! It was a subcontract knife!!!
Shows in the quality, I think!!!
 
Wow again. Thanks for putting up more pictures Bob, that's a very nice piece indeed. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top